I recently noticed that it appears that AS contracts out its ramp ops to another company. Is this the case? I saw this in SEA and I think LAX, but I am not 100% sure about that. The ramp crew has does not wear shirts and safety vests with the AS name and logo; another company's name and logo are worn instead. I assume this is cheaper than having your employees perform the ramp operations for instead of paying for salaries and benefits for all of their ramp employees in every city they serve, they just pay the other company. Is this correct? If so, I believe that is why AS does this. In addition, if the ramp ops are contracted out, is that the case for all of the cities AS serves?

I also noticed that the baggage loaders are hand operated rather than by motor, except for the belt. Why does AS choose to use this type of loader?

Thank you,

laxboeingman

The opinions I post are mine and not of any organization I am affiliated with.

Its been this way since the mid-90s or earlier at most their stations in the lower 48 - I believe SEA was the last to still have baggage done by employees but switched to Menzies in May 2005 after firing the rampers. I worked the PDX ramp in the mid 90s with Ogden (since bought by Menzies) who had contracts for a lot of other AS stations in California as well. In a few cases I think QX employees may have covered the AS ramp. During my time in PDX the QX ramp was still worked by QX employees, not sure if that's still the case with all the rebranding of QX to AS.